Portable Multifunction Device, Method, and Graphical User Interface for Adjusting an Insertion Point Marker

ABSTRACT

In accordance with some embodiments, a computer-implemented method is performed at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display. The method includes: displaying graphics and an insertion marker at a first location in the graphics on the touch screen display; detecting a finger contact with the touch screen display; and in response to the detected finger contact, expanding the insertion marker from a first size to a second size on the touch screen display and expanding a portion of the graphics on the touch screen display from an original size to an expanded size. The method further includes detecting movement of the finger contact on the touch screen display and moving the expanded insertion marker in accordance with the detected movement of the finger contact from the first location to a second location in the graphics.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNos. 60/947,382, “Portable Multifunction Device, Method, and GraphicalUser Interface for Adjusting an Insertion Point Marker,” filed Jun. 29,2007; 60/879,469, “Portable Multifunction Device,” filed Jan. 8, 2007;60/879,253, and “Portable Multifunction Device,” filed Jan. 7, 2007; andSer. No. 11/553,436, “Method, System, and Graphical User Interface forPositioning an Insertion Marker in a Touch Screen Display,” filed Oct.26, 2006. All of these applications are incorporated by referencedherein in their entirety.

This application is related to the following applications: (1) U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/188,182, “Touch Pad For Handheld Device,”filed Jul. 1, 2002; (2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/722,948,“Touch Pad For Handheld Device,” filed Nov. 25, 2003; (3) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/643,256, “Movable Touch Pad With AddedFunctionality,” filed Aug. 18, 2003; (4) U.S. patent application Ser.No. 10/654,108, “Ambidextrous Mouse,” filed Sep. 2, 2003; (5) U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/840,862, “Multipoint Touchscreen,” filedMay 6, 2004; (6) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/903,964, “GesturesFor Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed Jul. 30, 2004; (7) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/038,590, “Mode-Based Graphical User InterfacesFor Touch Sensitive Input Devices” filed Jan. 18, 2005; (8) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/057,050, “Display Actuator,” filed Feb. 11,2005; (9) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/658,777,“Multi-Functional Hand-Held Device,” filed Mar. 4, 2005; (10) U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/367,749, “Multi-Functional Hand-HeldDevice,” filed Mar. 3, 2006; (11) U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 60/824,769, “Portable Multifunction Device,” filed Sep. 6, 2006; and(12) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/927,925, “Visual Expander,”filed Aug. 26, 2004. All of these applications are incorporated byreference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosed embodiments relate generally to portable electronicdevices, and more particularly, to adjusting an insertion point markeron a portable electronic device.

BACKGROUND

As portable electronic devices become more compact, and the number offunctions performed by a given device increase, it has become asignificant challenge to design a user interface that allows users toeasily interact with a multifunction device. This challenge isparticular significant for handheld portable devices, which have muchsmaller screens than desktop or laptop computers. This situation isunfortunate because the user interface is the gateway through whichusers receive not only content but also responses to user actions orbehaviors, including user attempts to access a device's features, tools,and functions. Some portable communication devices (e.g., mobiletelephones, sometimes called mobile phones, cell phones, cellulartelephones, and the like) have resorted to adding more pushbuttons,increasing the density of push buttons, overloading the functions ofpushbuttons, or using complex menu systems to allow a user to access,store and manipulate data. These conventional user interfaces oftenresult in complicated key sequences and menu hierarchies that must bememorized by the user.

Many conventional user interfaces, such as those that include physicalpushbuttons, are also inflexible. This is unfortunate because it mayprevent a user interface from being configured and/or adapted by eitheran application running on the portable device or by users. When coupledwith the time consuming requirement to memorize multiple key sequencesand menu hierarchies, and the difficulty in activating a desiredpushbutton, such inflexibility is frustrating to most users.

Most portable electronic devices include applications that use textentry. Such applications may include instant messaging applications,email applications, and word processing applications, as well as otherapplications with text input. Because the screens on portable electronicdevices are relatively small, the text and corresponding text entrytools are relatively small as well. Typically, a small cursor isdisplayed to indicate where text will be inserted. To date, portableelectronic devices have not provided an easy, efficient way to positiona cursor or other insertion point marker when a user is entering text.

Accordingly, there is a need for portable multifunction devices withmore transparent and intuitive user interfaces for positioning aninsertion point marker (e.g., a cursor) that are easy to use, configure,and/or adapt. Such interfaces increase the effectiveness, efficiency anduser satisfaction with portable multifunction devices.

SUMMARY

The above deficiencies and other problems associated with userinterfaces for portable devices are reduced or eliminated by thedisclosed portable multifunction device. In some embodiments, the devicehas a touch-sensitive display (also known as a “touch screen”) with agraphical user interface (GUI), one or more processors, memory and oneor more modules, programs or sets of instructions stored in the memoryfor performing multiple functions. In some embodiments, the userinteracts with the GUI primarily through finger contacts and gestures onthe touch-sensitive display. In some embodiments, the functions mayinclude telephoning, video conferencing, e-mailing, instant messaging,blogging, digital photographing, digital videoing, web browsing, digitalmusic playing, and/or digital video playing. Instructions for performingthese functions may be included in a computer program product configuredfor execution by one or more processors.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computer-implemented method isperformed at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display.The method includes: displaying graphics and an insertion marker at afirst location in the graphics on the touch screen display; detecting afinger contact with the touch screen display; and in response to thedetected finger contact, expanding the insertion marker from a firstsize to a second size on the touch screen display and expanding aportion of the graphics on the touch screen display from an originalsize to an expanded size. The method further includes detecting movementof the finger contact on the touch screen display and moving theexpanded insertion marker in accordance with the detected movement ofthe finger contact from the first location to a second location in thegraphics.

In accordance with some embodiments, a graphical user interface on aportable electronic device with a touch screen display includes aninsertion marker and graphics. In response to detecting a finger contactwith the touch screen display, the insertion marker is expanded from afirst size to a second size, and a portion of the graphics is expanded;and in response to detecting movement of the finger contact on the touchscreen display, the expanded insertion marker is moved in accordancewith the detected movement of the finger contact from a first locationin the graphics to a second location in the graphics.

In accordance with some embodiments, a portable electronic deviceincludes a touch screen display; one or more processors; memory; and oneor more programs. The one or more programs are stored in the memory andconfigured to be executed by the one or more processors. The programsinclude: instructions for displaying graphics and an insertion marker ata first location in the graphics on the touch screen display;instructions for detecting a finger contact with the touch screendisplay; instructions for expanding the insertion marker from a firstsize to a second size on the touch screen display in response to thedetected finger contact; instructions for expanding a portion of thegraphics on the touch screen display from an original size to anexpanded size in response to the detected finger contact; instructionsfor detecting movement of the finger contact on the touch screendisplay; and instructions for moving the expanded insertion marker inaccordance with the detected movement of the finger contact from thefirst location to a second location in the graphics.

In accordance with some embodiments, a computer readable storage mediumstores one or more programs. The one or more programs includeinstructions, which when executed by a portable electronic device with atouch screen display, cause the device to: display graphics and aninsertion marker at a first location in the graphics on the touch screendisplay; detect a finger contact with the touch screen display; expandthe insertion marker from a first size to a second size on the touchscreen display in response to the detected finger contact; expand aportion of the graphics on the touch screen display from an originalsize to an expanded size in response to the detected finger contact;detect movement of the finger contact on the touch screen display; andmove the expanded insertion marker in accordance with the detectedmovement of the finger contact from the first location to a secondlocation in the graphics.

In accordance with some embodiments, a portable electronic device with atouch screen display includes: means for displaying graphics and aninsertion marker at a first location in the graphics on the touch screendisplay; means for detecting a finger contact with the touch screendisplay; means for expanding the insertion marker from a first size to asecond size on the touch screen display in response to the detectedfinger contact; means for expanding a portion of the graphics on thetouch screen display from an original size to an expanded size inresponse to the detected finger contact; means for detecting movement ofthe finger contact on the touch screen display; and means for moving theexpanded insertion marker in accordance with the detected movement ofthe finger contact from the first location to a second location in thegraphics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the aforementioned embodiments of theinvention as well as additional embodiments thereof, reference should bemade to the Description of Embodiments below, in conjunction with thefollowing drawings in which like reference numerals refer tocorresponding parts throughout the figures.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams illustrating portable multifunctiondevices with touch-sensitive displays in accordance with someembodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portable multifunction device having a touch screenin accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary user interface for unlocking a portableelectronic device in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate exemplary user interfaces for a menu ofapplications on a portable multifunction device in accordance with someembodiments.

FIGS. 5A-5K illustrate an exemplary user interface for inputting textfor an instant message in accordance with some embodiments.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate an exemplary user interface for managing,displaying, and creating notes in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a process for displaying and usingan insertion point magnifier in accordance with some embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detaileddescription, numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will beapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present inventionmay be practiced without these specific details. In other instances,well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks havenot been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspectsof the embodiments.

It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc.may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements shouldnot be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguishone element from another. For example, a first gesture could be termed asecond gesture, and, similarly, a second gesture could be termed a firstgesture, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The terminology used in the description of the invention herein is forthe purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is notintended to be limiting of the invention. As used in the description ofthe invention and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and“the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless thecontext clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that theterm “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and allpossible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Itwill be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or“comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence ofstated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/orcomponents, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or moreother features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components,and/or groups thereof.

Embodiments of a portable multifunction device, user interfaces for suchdevices, and associated processes for using such devices are described.In some embodiments, the device is a portable communications device suchas a mobile telephone that also contains other functions, such as PDAand/or music player functions.

The user interface may include a physical click wheel in addition to atouch screen or a virtual click wheel displayed on the touch screen. Aclick wheel is a user-interface device that may provide navigationcommands based on an angular displacement of the wheel or a point ofcontact with the wheel by a user of the device. A click wheel may alsobe used to provide a user command corresponding to selection of one ormore items, for example, when the user of the device presses down on atleast a portion of the wheel or the center of the wheel. Alternatively,breaking contact with a click wheel image on a touch screen surface mayindicate a user command corresponding to selection. For simplicity, inthe discussion that follows, a portable multifunction device thatincludes a touch screen is used as an exemplary embodiment. It should beunderstood, however, that some of the user interfaces and associatedprocesses may be applied to other devices, such as personal computersand laptop computers, that may include one or more other physicaluser-interface devices, such as a physical click wheel, a physicalkeyboard, a mouse and/or a joystick.

The device supports a variety of applications, such as a telephoneapplication, a video conferencing application, an e-mail application, aninstant messaging application, a blogging application, a digital cameraapplication, a digital video camera application, a web browsingapplication, a digital music player application, and/or a digital videoplayer application.

The various applications that may be executed on the device may use atleast one common physical user-interface device, such as the touchscreen. One or more functions of the touch screen as well ascorresponding information displayed on the device may be adjusted and/orvaried from one application to the next and/or within a respectiveapplication. In this way, a common physical architecture (such as thetouch screen) of the device may support the variety of applications withuser interfaces that are intuitive and transparent.

The user interfaces may include one or more soft keyboard embodiments.The soft keyboard embodiments may include standard (QWERTY) and/ornon-standard configurations of symbols on the displayed icons of thekeyboard, such as those described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/459,606, “Keyboards For Portable Electronic Devices,” filed Jul. 24,2006, and Ser. No. 11/459,615, “Touch Screen Keyboards For PortableElectronic Devices,” filed Jul. 24, 2006, the contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference. The keyboard embodiments may include areduced number of icons (or soft keys) relative to the number of keys inexisting physical keyboards, such as that for a typewriter. This maymake it easier for users to select one or more icons in the keyboard,and thus, one or more corresponding symbols. The keyboard embodimentsmay be adaptive. For example, displayed icons may be modified inaccordance with user actions, such as selecting one or more icons and/orone or more corresponding symbols. One or more applications on theportable device may utilize common and/or different keyboardembodiments. Thus, the keyboard embodiment used may be tailored to atleast some of the applications. In some embodiments, one or morekeyboard embodiments may be tailored to a respective user. For example,one or more keyboard embodiments may be tailored to a respective userbased on a word usage history (lexicography, slang, individual usage) ofthe respective user. Some of the keyboard embodiments may be adjusted toreduce a probability of a user error when selecting one or more icons,and thus one or more symbols, when using the soft keyboard embodiments.

Attention is now directed towards embodiments of the device. FIGS. 1Aand 1B are block diagrams illustrating portable multifunction devices100 with touch-sensitive displays 112 in accordance with someembodiments. The touch-sensitive display 112 is sometimes called a“touch screen” for convenience, and may also be known as or called atouch-sensitive display system. The device 100 may include a memory 102(which may include one or more computer readable storage mediums), amemory controller 122, one or more processing units (CPU's) 120, aperipherals interface 118, RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110, aspeaker 111, a microphone 113, an input/output (I/O) subsystem 106,other input or control devices 116, and an external port 124. The device100 may include one or more optical sensors 164. These components maycommunicate over one or more communication buses or signal lines 103.

It should be appreciated that the device 100 is only one example of aportable multifunction device 100, and that the device 100 may have moreor fewer components than shown, may combine two or more components, or amay have a different configuration or arrangement of the components. Thevarious components shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B may be implemented inhardware, software or a combination of both hardware and software,including one or more signal processing and/or application specificintegrated circuits.

Memory 102 may include high-speed random access memory and may alsoinclude non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storagedevices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state memorydevices. Access to memory 102 by other components of the device 100,such as the CPU 120 and the peripherals interface 118, may be controlledby the memory controller 122.

The peripherals interface 118 couples the input and output peripheralsof the device to the CPU 120 and memory 102. The one or more processors120 run or execute various software programs and/or sets of instructionsstored in memory 102 to perform various functions for the device 100 andto process data.

In some embodiments, the peripherals interface 118, the CPU 120, and thememory controller 122 may be implemented on a single chip, such as achip 104. In some other embodiments, they may be implemented on separatechips.

The RF (radio frequency) circuitry 108 receives and sends RF signals,also called electromagnetic signals. The RF circuitry 108 convertselectrical signals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates withcommunications networks and other communications devices via theelectromagnetic signals. The RF circuitry 108 may include well-knowncircuitry for performing these functions, including but not limited toan antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner,one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, asubscriber identity module (SIM) card, memory, and so forth. The RFcircuitry 108 may communicate with networks, such as the Internet, alsoreferred to as the World Wide Web (WWW), an intranet and/or a wirelessnetwork, such as a cellular telephone network, a wireless local areanetwork (LAN) and/or a metropolitan area network (MAN), and otherdevices by wireless communication. The wireless communication may useany of a plurality of communications standards, protocols andtechnologies, including but not limited to Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), high-speeddownlink packet access (HSDPA), wideband code division multiple access(W-CDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multipleaccess (TDMA), Bluetooth, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) (e.g., IEEE 802.11a,IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g and/or IEEE 802.11n), voice over InternetProtocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, a protocol for email (e.g., Internet messageaccess protocol (IMAP) and/or post office protocol (POP)), instantmessaging (e.g., extensible messaging and presence protocol (XMPP),Session Initiation Protocol for Instant Messaging and PresenceLeveraging Extensions (SIMPLE), and/or Instant Messaging and PresenceService (IMPS)), and/or Short Message Service (SMS)), or any othersuitable communication protocol, including communication protocols notyet developed as of the filing date of this document.

The audio circuitry 110, the speaker 111, and the microphone 113 providean audio interface between a user and the device 100. The audiocircuitry 110 receives audio data from the peripherals interface 118,converts the audio data to an electrical signal, and transmits theelectrical signal to the speaker 111. The speaker 111 converts theelectrical signal to human-audible sound waves. The audio circuitry 110also receives electrical signals converted by the microphone 113 fromsound waves. The audio circuitry 110 converts the electrical signal toaudio data and transmits the audio data to the peripherals interface 118for processing. Audio data may be retrieved from and/or transmitted tomemory 102 and/or the RF circuitry 108 by the peripherals interface 118.In some embodiments, the audio circuitry 110 also includes a headsetjack (e.g. 212, FIG. 2). The headset jack provides an interface betweenthe audio circuitry 110 and removable audio input/output peripherals,such as output-only headphones or a headset with both output (e.g., aheadphone for one or both ears) and input (e.g., a microphone).

The I/O subsystem 106 couples input/output peripherals on the device100, such as the touch screen 112 and other input/control devices 116,to the peripherals interface 118. The I/O subsystem 106 may include adisplay controller 156 and one or more input controllers 160 for otherinput or control devices. The one or more input controllers 160receive/send electrical signals from/to other input or control devices116. The other input/control devices 116 may include physical buttons(e.g., push buttons, rocker buttons, etc.), dials, slider switches,joysticks, click wheels, and so forth. In some alternate embodiments,input controller(s) 160 may be coupled to any (or none) of thefollowing: a keyboard, infrared port, USB port, and a pointer devicesuch as a mouse. The one or more buttons (e.g., 208, FIG. 2) may includean up/down button for volume control of the speaker 111 and/or themicrophone 113. The one or more buttons may include a push button (e.g.,206, FIG. 2). A quick press of the push button may disengage a lock ofthe touch screen 112 or begin a process that uses gestures on the touchscreen to unlock the device, as described in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/322,549, “Unlocking a Device by Performing Gestures on anUnlock Image,” filed Dec. 23, 2005, which is hereby incorporated byreference. A longer press of the push button (e.g., 206) may turn powerto the device 100 on or off. The user may be able to customize afunctionality of one or more of the buttons. The touch screen 112 isused to implement virtual or soft buttons and one or more softkeyboards.

The touch-sensitive touch screen 112 provides an input interface and anoutput interface between the device and a user. The display controller156 receives and/or sends electrical signals from/to the touch screen112. The touch screen 112 displays visual output to the user. The visualoutput may include graphics, text, icons, video, and any combinationthereof (collectively termed “graphics”). In some embodiments, some orall of the visual output may correspond to user-interface objects,further details of which are described below.

A touch screen 112 has a touch-sensitive surface, sensor or set ofsensors that accepts input from the user based on haptic and/or tactilecontact. The touch screen 112 and the display controller 156 (along withany associated modules and/or sets of instructions in memory 102) detectcontact (and any movement or breaking of the contact) on the touchscreen 112 and converts the detected contact into interaction withuser-interface objects (e.g., one or more soft keys, icons, web pages orimages) that are displayed on the touch screen. In an exemplaryembodiment, a point of contact between a touch screen 112 and the usercorresponds to a finger of the user.

The touch screen 112 may use LCD (liquid crystal display) technology, orLPD (light emitting polymer display) technology, although other displaytechnologies may be used in other embodiments. The touch screen 112 andthe display controller 156 may detect contact and any movement orbreaking thereof using any of a plurality of touch sensing technologiesnow known or later developed, including but not limited to capacitive,resistive, infrared, and surface acoustic wave technologies, as well asother proximity sensor arrays or other elements for determining one ormore points of contact with a touch screen 112.

A touch-sensitive display in some embodiments of the touch screen 112may be analogous to the multi-touch sensitive tablets described in thefollowing U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,323,846 (Westerman et al.), 6,570,557(Westerman et al.), and/or 6,677,932 (Westerman), and/or U.S. PatentPublication 2002/0015024A1, each of which is hereby incorporated byreference. However, a touch screen 112 displays visual output from theportable device 100, whereas touch sensitive tablets do not providevisual output.

A touch-sensitive display in some embodiments of the touch screen 112may be as described in the following applications: (1) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/381,313, “Multipoint Touch Surface Controller,”filed May 2, 2006; (2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/840,862,“Multipoint Touchscreen,” filed May 6, 2004; (3) U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/903,964, “Gestures For Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filedJul. 30, 2004; (4) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/048,264,“Gestures For Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed Jan. 31, 2005; (5)U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/038,590, “Mode-Based Graphical UserInterfaces For Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed Jan. 18, 2005; (6)U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/228,758, “Virtual Input DevicePlacement On A Touch Screen User Interface,” filed Sep. 16, 2005; (7)U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/228,700, “Operation Of A ComputerWith A Touch Screen Interface,” filed Sep. 16, 2005; (8) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/228,737, “Activating Virtual Keys Of ATouch-Screen Virtual Keyboard,” filed Sep. 16, 2005; and (9) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/367,749, “Multi-Functional Hand-Held Device,”filed Mar. 3, 2006. All of these applications are incorporated byreference herein.

The touch screen 112 may have a resolution in excess of 100 dpi. In anexemplary embodiment, the touch screen has a resolution of approximately160 dpi. The user may make contact with the touch screen 112 using anysuitable object or appendage, such as a stylus, a finger, and so forth.In some embodiments, the user interface is designed to work primarilywith finger-based contacts and gestures, which are much less precisethan stylus-based input due to the larger area of contact of a finger onthe touch screen. In some embodiments, the device translates the roughfinger-based input into a precise pointer/cursor position or command forperforming the actions desired by the user.

In some embodiments, in addition to the touch screen, the device 100 mayinclude a touchpad (not shown) for activating or deactivating particularfunctions. In some embodiments, the touchpad is a touch-sensitive areaof the device that, unlike the touch screen, does not display visualoutput. The touchpad may be a touch-sensitive surface that is separatefrom the touch screen 112 or an extension of the touch-sensitive surfaceformed by the touch screen.

In some embodiments, the device 100 may include a physical or virtualclick wheel as an input control device 116. A user may navigate amongand interact with one or more graphical objects (henceforth referred toas icons) displayed in the touch screen 112 by rotating the click wheelor by moving a point of contact with the click wheel (e.g., where theamount of movement of the point of contact is measured by its angulardisplacement with respect to a center point of the click wheel). Theclick wheel may also be used to select one or more of the displayedicons. For example, the user may press down on at least a portion of theclick wheel or an associated button. User commands and navigationcommands provided by the user via the click wheel may be processed by aninput controller 160 as well as one or more of the modules and/or setsof instructions in memory 102. For a virtual click wheel, the clickwheel and click wheel controller may be part of the touch screen 112 andthe display controller 156, respectively. For a virtual click wheel, theclick wheel may be either an opaque or semitransparent object thatappears and disappears on the touch screen display in response to userinteraction with the device. In some embodiments, a virtual click wheelis displayed on the touch screen of a portable multifunction device andoperated by user contact with the touch screen.

The device 100 also includes a power system 162 for powering the variouscomponents. The power system 162 may include a power management system,one or more power sources (e.g., battery, alternating current (AC)), arecharging system, a power failure detection circuit, a power converteror inverter, a power status indicator (e.g., a light-emitting diode(LED)) and any other components associated with the generation,management and distribution of power in portable devices.

The device 100 may also include one or more optical sensors 164. FIGS.1A and 1B show an optical sensor coupled to an optical sensor controller158 in I/O subsystem 106. The optical sensor 164 may includecharge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor(CMOS) phototransistors. The optical sensor 164 receives light from theenvironment, projected through one or more lens, and converts the lightto data representing an image. In conjunction with an imaging module 143(also called a camera module), the optical sensor 164 may capture stillimages or video. In some embodiments, an optical sensor is located onthe back of the device 100, opposite the touch screen display 112 on thefront of the device, so that the touch screen display may be used as aviewfinder for either still and/or video image acquisition. In someembodiments, an optical sensor is located on the front of the device sothat the user's image may be obtained for videoconferencing while theuser views the other video conference participants on the touch screendisplay. In some embodiments, the position of the optical sensor 164 canbe changed by the user (e.g., by rotating the lens and the sensor in thedevice housing) so that a single optical sensor 164 may be used alongwith the touch screen display for both video conferencing and stilland/or video image acquisition.

The device 100 may also include one or more proximity sensors 166. FIGS.1A and 1B show a proximity sensor 166 coupled to the peripheralsinterface 118. Alternately, the proximity sensor 166 may be coupled toan input controller 160 in the I/O subsystem 106. The proximity sensor166 may perform as described in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos.11/241,839, “Proximity Detector In Handheld Device,” filed Sep. 30,2005; Ser. No. 11/240,788, “Proximity Detector In Handheld Device,”filed Sep. 30, 2005; Ser. No. to be determined, filed Jan. 7, 2007,“Using Ambient Light Sensor To Augment Proximity Sensor Output,”attorney docket no. 04860.P4851US1; Ser. No. to be determined, filedOct. 24, 2006, “Automated Response To And Sensing Of User Activity InPortable Devices,” attorney docket no. 04860.P4293; and Ser. No. to bedetermined, filed Dec. 12, 2006, “Methods And Systems For AutomaticConfiguration Of Peripherals,” attorney docket no. 04860.P4634, whichare hereby incorporated by reference. In some embodiments, the proximitysensor turns off and disables the touch screen 112 when themultifunction device is placed near the user's ear (e.g., when the useris making a phone call). In some embodiments, the proximity sensor keepsthe screen off when the device is in the user's pocket, purse, or otherdark area to prevent unnecessary battery drainage when the device is alocked state.

The device 100 may also include one or more accelerometers 168. FIGS. 1Aand 1B show an accelerometer 168 coupled to the peripherals interface118. Alternately, the accelerometer 168 may be coupled to an inputcontroller 160 in the I/O subsystem 106. The accelerometer 168 mayperform as described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 20050190059,“Acceleration-based Theft Detection System for Portable ElectronicDevices,” and U.S. Patent Publication No. 20060017692, “Methods AndApparatuses For Operating A Portable Device Based On An Accelerometer,”both of which are which are incorporated herein by reference. In someembodiments, information is displayed on the touch screen display in aportrait view or a landscape view based on an analysis of data receivedfrom the one or more accelerometers.

In some embodiments, the software components stored in memory 102 mayinclude an operating system 126, a communication module (or set ofinstructions) 128, a contact/motion module (or set of instructions) 130,a graphics module (or set of instructions) 132, a text input module (orset of instructions) 134, a Global Positioning System (GPS) module (orset of instructions) 135, and applications (or set of instructions) 136.

The operating system 126 (e.g., Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X,WINDOWS, or an embedded operating system such as VxWorks) includesvarious software components and/or drivers for controlling and managinggeneral system tasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control,power management, etc.) and facilitates communication between varioushardware and software components.

The communication module 128 facilitates communication with otherdevices over one or more external ports 124 and also includes varioussoftware components for handling data received by the RF circuitry 108and/or the external port 124. The external port 124 (e.g., UniversalSerial Bus (USB), FIREWIRE, etc.) is adapted for coupling directly toother devices or indirectly over a network (e.g., the Internet, wirelessLAN, etc.). In some embodiments, the external port is a multi-pin (e.g.,30-pin) connector that is the same as, or similar to and/or compatiblewith the 30-pin connector used on iPod (trademark of Apple Computer,Inc.) devices.

The contact/motion module 130 may detect contact with the touch screen112 (in conjunction with the display controller 156) and other touchsensitive devices (e.g., a touchpad or physical click wheel). Thecontact/motion module 130 includes various software components forperforming various operations related to detection of contact, such asdetermining if contact has occurred, determining if there is movement ofthe contact and tracking the movement across the touch screen 112, anddetermining if the contact has been broken (i.e., if the contact hasceased). Determining movement of the point of contact may includedetermining speed (magnitude), velocity (magnitude and direction),and/or an acceleration (a change in magnitude and/or direction) of thepoint of contact. These operations may be applied to single contacts(e.g., one finger contacts) or to multiple simultaneous contacts (e.g.,“multitouch”/multiple finger contacts). In some embodiments, thecontact/motion module 130 and the display controller 156 also detectscontact on a touchpad. In some embodiments, the contact/motion module130 and the controller 160 detects contact on a click wheel.

The graphics module 132 includes various known software components forrendering and displaying graphics on the touch screen 112, includingcomponents for changing the intensity of graphics that are displayed. Asused herein, the term “graphics” includes any object that can bedisplayed to a user, including without limitation text, web pages, icons(such as user-interface objects including soft keys), digital images,videos, animations and the like. An animation in this context is adisplay of a sequence of images that gives the appearance of movement,and informs the user of an action that has been performed (such asmoving an email message to a folder). In this context, a respectiveanimation that confirms an action by the user of the device typicallytakes a predefined, finite amount of time, such as an amount of timebetween 0.2 and 1.0 seconds, or between 0.5 and 2.0 seconds, dependingon the context.

The text input module 134, which may be a component of graphics module132, provides soft keyboards for entering text in various applications(e.g., contacts 137, e-mail 140, IM 141, blogging 142, browser 147, andany other application that needs text input).

The GPS module 135 determines the location of the device and providesthis information for use in various applications (e.g., to telephone 138for use in location-based dialing, to camera 143 and/or blogger 142 aspicture/video metadata, and to applications that provide location-basedservices such as weather widgets, local yellow page widgets, andmap/navigation widgets).

The applications 136 may include the following modules (or sets ofinstructions), or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   a contacts module 137 (sometimes called an address book or        contact list);    -   a telephone module 138;    -   a video conferencing module 139;    -   an e-mail client module 140;    -   an instant messaging (IM) module 141;    -   a blogging module 142;    -   a camera module 143 for still and/or video images;    -   an image management module 144;    -   a video player module 145;    -   a music player module 146;    -   a browser module 147;    -   a calendar module 148;    -   widget modules 149, which may include weather widget 149-1,        stocks widget 149-2, calculator widget 149-3, alarm clock widget        149-4, dictionary widget 149-5, and other widgets obtained by        the user, as well as user-created widgets 149-6;    -   widget creator module 150 for making user-created widgets 149-6;    -   search module 151;    -   video and music player module 152, which merges video player        module 145 and music player module 146;    -   notes module 153; and/or    -   map module 154.

Examples of other applications 136 that may be stored in memory 102include other word processing applications, JAVA-enabled applications,encryption, digital rights management, voice recognition, and voicereplication.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contactmodule 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, the contactsmodule 137 may be used to manage an address book or contact list,including: adding name(s) to the address book; deleting name(s) from theaddress book; associating telephone number(s), e-mail address(es),physical address(es) or other information with a name; associating animage with a name; categorizing and sorting names; providing telephonenumbers or e-mail addresses to initiate and/or facilitate communicationsby telephone 138, video conference 139, e-mail 140, or IM 141; and soforth. Embodiments of user interfaces and associated processes usingcontacts module 137 are described further below.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111,microphone 113, touch screen 112, display controller 156, contact module130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, the telephonemodule 138 may be used to enter a sequence of characters correspondingto a telephone number, access one or more telephone numbers in theaddress book 137, modify a telephone number that has been entered, diala respective telephone number, conduct a conversation and disconnect orhang up when the conversation is completed. As noted above, the wirelesscommunication may use any of a plurality of communications standards,protocols and technologies. Embodiments of user interfaces andassociated processes using telephone module 138 are described furtherbelow.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, audio circuitry 110, speaker 111,microphone 113, touch screen 112, display controller 156, optical sensor164, optical sensor controller 158, contact module 130, graphics module132, text input module 134, contact list 137, and telephone module 138,the videoconferencing module 139 may be used to initiate, conduct, andterminate a video conference between a user and one or more otherparticipants. Embodiments of user interfaces and associated processesusing videoconferencing module 139 are described further below.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text inputmodule 134, the e-mail client module 140 may be used to create, send,receive, and manage e-mail. In conjunction with image management module144, the e-mail module 140 makes it very easy to create and send e-mailswith still or video images taken with camera module 143. Embodiments ofuser interfaces and associated processes using e-mail module 140 aredescribed further below.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text inputmodule 134, the instant messaging module 141 may be used to enter asequence of characters corresponding to an instant message, to modifypreviously entered characters, to transmit a respective instant message(for example, using a Short Message Service (SMS) or Multimedia MessageService (MMS) protocol for telephony-based instant messages or usingXMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS for Internet-based instant messages), to receiveinstant messages and to view received instant messages. In someembodiments, transmitted and/or received instant messages may includegraphics, photos, audio files, video files and/or other attachments asare supported in a MMS and/or an Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS). Asused herein, “instant messaging” refers to both telephony-based messages(e.g., messages sent using SMS or MMS) and Internet-based messages(e.g., messages sent using XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS). Embodiments of userinterfaces and associated processes using instant messaging module 141are described further below.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, displaycontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, image management module 144, and browsing module 147, theblogging module 142 may be used to send text, still images, video,and/or other graphics to a blog (e.g., the user's blog). Embodiments ofuser interfaces and associated processes using blogging module 142 aredescribed further below.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, opticalsensor(s) 164, optical sensor controller 158, contact module 130,graphics module 132, and image management module 144, the camera module143 may be used to capture still images or video (including a videostream) and store them into memory 102, modify characteristics of astill image or video, or delete a still image or video from memory 102.Embodiments of user interfaces and associated processes using cameramodule 143 are described further below.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contactmodule 130, graphics module 132, text input module 134, and cameramodule 143, the image management module 144 may be used to arrange,modify or otherwise manipulate, label, delete, present (e.g., in adigital slide show or album), and store still and/or video images.Embodiments of user interfaces and associated processes using imagemanagement module 144 are described further below.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contactmodule 130, graphics module 132, audio circuitry 110, and speaker 111,the video player module 145 may be used to display, present or otherwiseplay back videos (e.g., on the touch screen or on an external, connecteddisplay via external port 124). Embodiments of user interfaces andassociated processes using video player module 145 are described furtherbelow.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system controller 156,contact module 130, graphics module 132, audio circuitry 110, speaker111, RF circuitry 108, and browser module 147, the music player module146 allows the user to download and play back recorded music and othersound files stored in one or more file formats, such as MP3 or AACfiles. In some embodiments, the device 100 may include the functionalityof an MP3 player, such as an iPod (trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.).Embodiments of user interfaces and associated processes using musicplayer module 146 are described further below.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text inputmodule 134, the browser module 147 may be used to browse the Internet,including searching, linking to, receiving, and displaying web pages orportions thereof, as well as attachments and other files linked to webpages. Embodiments of user interfaces and associated processes usingbrowser module 147 are described further below.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, e-mail module 140, and browser module 147, the calendarmodule 148 may be used to create, display, modify, and store calendarsand data associated with calendars (e.g., calendar entries, to do lists,etc.). Embodiments of user interfaces and associated processes usingcalendar module 148 are described further below.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, and browser module 147, the widget modules 149 aremini-applications that may be downloaded and used by a user (e.g.,weather widget 149-1, stocks widget 149-2, calculator widget 149-3,alarm clock widget 149-4, and dictionary widget 149-5) or created by theuser (e.g., user-created widget 149-6). In some embodiments, a widgetincludes an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) file, a CSS (CascadingStyle Sheets) file, and a JavaScript file. In some embodiments, a widgetincludes an XML (Extensible Markup Language) file and a JavaScript file(e.g., Yahoo! Widgets). Embodiments of user interfaces and associatedprocesses using widget modules 149 are described further below.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, and browser module 147, the widget creator module 150 may beused by a user to create widgets (e.g., turning a user-specified portionof a web page into a widget). Embodiments of user interfaces andassociated processes using widget creator module 150 are describedfurther below.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display system controller 156,contact module 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, thesearch module 151 may be used to search for text, music, sound, image,video, and/or other files in memory 102 that match one or more searchcriteria (e.g., one or more user-specified search terms). Embodiments ofuser interfaces and associated processes using search module 151 aredescribed further below.

In conjunction with touch screen 112, display controller 156, contactmodule 130, graphics module 132, and text input module 134, the notesmodule 153 may be used to create and manage notes, to do lists, and thelike. Embodiments of user interfaces and associated processes usingnotes module 153 are described further below.

In conjunction with RF circuitry 108, touch screen 112, display systemcontroller 156, contact module 130, graphics module 132, text inputmodule 134, GPS module 135, and browser module 147, the map module 154may be used to receive, display, modify, and store maps and dataassociated with maps (e.g., driving directions; data on stores and otherpoints of interest at or near a particular location; and otherlocation-based data). Embodiments of user interfaces and associatedprocesses using map module 154 are described further below.

Each of the above identified modules and applications correspond to aset of instructions for performing one or more functions describedabove. These modules (i.e., sets of instructions) need not beimplemented as separate software programs, procedures or modules, andthus various subsets of these modules may be combined or otherwisere-arranged in various embodiments. For example, video player module 145may be combined with music player module 146 into a single module (e.g.,video and music player module 152, FIG. 1B). In some embodiments, memory102 may store a subset of the modules and data structures identifiedabove. Furthermore, memory 102 may store additional modules and datastructures not described above.

In some embodiments, the device 100 is a device where operation of apredefined set of functions on the device is performed exclusivelythrough a touch screen 112 and/or a touchpad. By using a touch screenand/or a touchpad as the primary input/control device for operation ofthe device 100, the number of physical input/control devices (such aspush buttons, dials, and the like) on the device 100 may be reduced.

The predefined set of functions that may be performed exclusivelythrough a touch screen and/or a touchpad include navigation between userinterfaces. In some embodiments, the touchpad, when touched by the user,navigates the device 100 to a main, home, or root menu from any userinterface that may be displayed on the device 100. In such embodiments,the touchpad may be referred to as a “menu button.” In some otherembodiments, the menu button may be a physical push button or otherphysical input/control device instead of a touchpad.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portable multifunction device 100 having a touchscreen 112 in accordance with some embodiments. The touch screen maydisplay one or more graphics within user interface (UI) 200. In thisembodiment, as well as others described below, a user may select one ormore of the graphics by making contact or touching the graphics, forexample, with one or more fingers 202 (not drawn to scale in thefigure). In some embodiments, selection of one or more graphics occurswhen the user breaks contact with the one or more graphics. In someembodiments, the contact may include a gesture, such as one or moretaps, one or more swipes (from left to right, right to left, upwardand/or downward) and/or a rolling of a finger (from right to left, leftto right, upward and/or downward) that has made contact with the device100. In some embodiments, inadvertent contact with a graphic may notselect the graphic. For example, a swipe gesture that sweeps over anapplication icon may not select the corresponding application when thegesture corresponding to selection is a tap.

The device 100 may also include one or more physical buttons, such as“home” or menu button 204. As described previously, the menu button 204may be used to navigate to any application 136 in a set of applicationsthat may be executed on the device 100. Alternatively, in someembodiments, the menu button is implemented as a soft key in a GUI intouch screen 112.

In one embodiment, the device 100 includes a touch screen 112, a menubutton 204, a push button 206 for powering the device on/off and lockingthe device, volume adjustment button(s) 208, a Subscriber IdentityModule (SIM) card slot 210, a head set jack 212, and a docking/chargingexternal port 124. The push button 206 may be used to turn the poweron/off on the device by depressing the button and holding the button inthe depressed state for a predefined time interval; to lock the deviceby depressing the button and releasing the button before the predefinedtime interval has elapsed; and/or to unlock the device or initiate anunlock process. In an alternative embodiment, the device 100 also mayaccept verbal input for activation or deactivation of some functionsthrough the microphone 113.

Attention is now directed towards embodiments of user interfaces (“UI”)and associated processes that may be implemented on a portablemultifunction device 100.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary user interface for unlocking a portableelectronic device in accordance with some embodiments. In someembodiments, user interface 300 includes the following elements, or asubset or superset thereof:

-   -   Unlock image 302 that is moved with a finger gesture to unlock        the device;    -   Arrow 304 that provides a visual cue to the unlock gesture;    -   Channel 306 that provides additional cues to the unlock gesture;    -   Time 308;    -   Day 310;    -   Date 312; and    -   Wallpaper image 314.

In some embodiments, the device detects contact with the touch-sensitivedisplay (e.g., a user's finger making contact on or near the unlockimage 302) while the device is in a user-interface lock state. Thedevice moves the unlock image 302 in accordance with the contact. Thedevice transitions to a user-interface unlock state if the detectedcontact corresponds to a predefined gesture, such as moving the unlockimage across channel 306. Conversely, the device maintains theuser-interface lock state if the detected contact does not correspond tothe predefined gesture. As noted above, processes that use gestures onthe touch screen to unlock the device are described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/322,549, “Unlocking A Device By PerformingGestures On An Unlock Image,” filed Dec. 23, 2005, and Ser. No.11/322,550, “Indication Of Progress Towards Satisfaction Of A User InputCondition,” filed Dec. 23, 2005, which are hereby incorporated byreference.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate exemplary user interfaces for a menu ofapplications on a portable multifunction device in accordance with someembodiments. In some embodiments, user interface 400A includes thefollowing elements, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   Signal strength indicator(s) 402 for wireless communication(s),        such as cellular and Wi-Fi signals;    -   Time 404;    -   Battery status indicator 406;    -   Tray 408 with icons for frequently used applications, such as:    -   Phone 138, which may include an indicator 414 of the number of        missed calls or voicemail messages;    -   E-mail client 140, which may include an indicator 410 of the        number of unread e-mails;    -   Browser 147; and    -   Music player 146; and    -   Icons for other applications, such as one or more of the        following:        -   IM 141;        -   Image management 144;        -   Camera 143;        -   Video player 145;        -   Weather 149-1;        -   Stocks 149-2;        -   Blog 142;        -   Calendar 148;        -   Calculator 149-3;        -   Alarm clock 149-4;        -   Dictionary 149-5; and        -   User-created widget 149-6.

In some embodiments, user interface 400B includes the followingelements, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   402, 404, 406, 141, 148, 144, 143, 149-3, 149-2, 149-1, 149-4,        410, 414, 138, 140, and 147, as described above;    -   Map 154;    -   Notes 153;    -   Settings 412, which provides access to settings for the device        100 and its various applications 136, as described further        below; and    -   Video and music player module 152, also referred to as iPod        (trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.) module 152.

In some embodiments, UI 400A or 400B displays all of the availableapplications 136 on one screen so that there is no need to scrollthrough a list of applications (e.g., via a scroll bar). In someembodiments, as the number of applications increase, the iconscorresponding to the applications may decrease in size so that allapplications may be displayed on a single screen without scrolling. Insome embodiments, having all applications on one screen and a menubutton enables a user to access any desired application with at most twoinputs, such as activating the menu button 204 and then activating thedesired application (e.g., by a tap or other finger gesture on the iconcorresponding to the application).

In some embodiments, UI 400A or 400B provides integrated access to bothwidget-based applications and non-widget-based applications. In someembodiments, all of the widgets, whether user-created or not, aredisplayed in UI 400A or 400B. In other embodiments, activating the iconfor user-created widget 149-6 may lead to another UI that contains theuser-created widgets or icons corresponding to the user-created widgets.

In some embodiments, a user may rearrange the icons in UI 400A or 400B,e.g., using processes described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/459,602, “Portable Electronic Device With Interface ReconfigurationMode,” filed Jul. 24, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference.For example, a user may move application icons in and out of tray 408using finger gestures.

In some embodiments, UI 400A or 400B includes a gauge (not shown) thatdisplays an updated account usage metric for an account associated withusage of the device (e.g., a cellular phone account), as described inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/322,552, “Account InformationDisplay For Portable Communication Device,” filed Dec. 23, 2005, whichis hereby incorporated by reference.

FIGS. 5A-5K illustrate an exemplary user interface for inputting textfor an instant message in accordance with some embodiments.

In some embodiments, user interface 600A (FIG. 5A) includes thefollowing elements, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   402, 404, and 406, as described above;    -   Name 504 corresponding to the phone number used in the instant        message conversation (or the phone number itself if the name is        not available);    -   Instant messages icon 602 that when activated (e.g., by a finger        tap on the icon) initiates transition to a UI listing instant        message conversations;    -   Instant messages 604 from the other party, typically listed in        order along one side of UI 600A;    -   Instant messages 606 to the other party, typically listed in        order along the opposite side of UI 600A to show the back and        forth interplay of messages in the conversation;    -   Timestamps 608 for at least some of the instant messages;    -   Text entry box 612;    -   Send icon 614 that when activated (e.g., by a finger tap on the        icon) initiates sending of the message in text entry box 612 to        the other party;    -   Letter keyboard 616 for entering text in box 612;    -   Alternate keyboard selector icon 618 that when activated (e.g.,        by a finger tap on the icon) initiates the display of a        different keyboard (e.g., 624, FIG. 5C);    -   Send icon 620 that when activated (e.g., by a finger tap on the        icon) initiates sending of the message in text entry box 612 to        the other party (e.g., Jane Doe 504-1);    -   Shift key 628 that when activated (e.g., by a finger tap on the        icon) capitalizes the next letter chosen on letter keyboard 616;        and    -   Vertical bar 630 that helps a user understand what portion of        the list of instant messages in an IM conversation is being        displayed.

In some embodiments, a user can scroll through the message conversation(comprised of messages 604 and 606) by applying a vertical swipe gesture610 to the area displaying the conversation. In some embodiments, avertically downward gesture scrolls the conversation downward, therebyshowing older messages in the conversation. In some embodiments, avertically upward gesture scrolls the conversation upward, therebyshowing newer, more recent messages in the conversation. In someembodiments, as noted above, the last message in the conversation (e.g.,606-2) is displayed in the list of instant messages 500 (e.g., 506-1).

In some embodiments, keys in keyboards 616 (FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5E-5K), 624(FIG. 5C), and/or 639 (FIG. 5D) briefly change shade and/or color whentouched/activated by a user to help the user learn to activate thedesired keys.

In some embodiments, vertical bar 630 is displayed temporarily after anobject is detected on or near the touch screen display (e.g., a fingertouch is detected anywhere on the list of instant messages). In someembodiments, the vertical bar 630 has a vertical position on top of thedisplayed portion of the list that corresponds to the vertical positionin the list of the displayed portion of the list. In some embodiments,the vertical bar 630 has a vertical length that corresponds to theportion of the list being displayed. For example, in FIG. 5A, thevertical position of the vertical bar 630 indicates that the bottom ofthe list of messages is being displayed (which correspond to the mostrecent messages) and the vertical length of the vertical bar 630indicates that roughly half of the messages in the conversation arebeing displayed.

In some embodiments, user interface 600B (FIG. 5B) includes thefollowing elements, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   402, 404, 406, 504, 602, 604, 606, 608, 612, 614, 616, 618, 620,        and 630 as described above; and    -   word suggestion area 622 that provides a list of possible words        to complete the word fragment being typed by the user in text        entry box 612.

In some embodiments, the word suggestion area does not appear in UI 600Buntil after a predefined time delay (e.g., 2-3 seconds) in text beingentered by the user. In some embodiments, the word suggestion area isnot used or can be turned off by the user.

In some embodiments, user interface 600C (FIG. 5C) includes thefollowing elements, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   402, 404, 406, 602, 604, 606, 608, 612, 614, 620, and 622 as        described above;    -   Alternate keyboard 624, which may be made up primarily of digits        and punctuation, with frequently used punctuation keys (e.g.,        period key 631, comma key 633, question mark key 635, and        exclamation point key 637) made larger than the other keys;    -   Letter keyboard selector icon 626 that when activated (e.g., by        a finger tap on the icon) initiates the display of a letter        keyboard (e.g., 616, FIG. 5A); and    -   Shift key 628 that when activated (e.g., by a finger tap on the        icon) initiates display of yet another keyboard (e.g., 639, FIG.        5D).

In some embodiments, keeping the period key 631 near keyboard selectoricon 626 reduces the distance that a user's finger needs to travel toenter the oft-used period.

In some embodiments, user interface 600D (FIG. 5D) includes thefollowing elements, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   402, 404, 406, 504, 602, 604, 606, 608, 612, 614, 620, 622, 626,        628 as described above; and    -   Another alternate keyboard 639, which may be made up primarily        of symbols and punctuation, with frequently used punctuation        keys (e.g., period key 631, comma key 633, question mark key        635, and exclamation point key 637) made larger than the other        keys.

In some embodiments, user interface 600E (FIG. 5E) includes thefollowing elements, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   402, 404, 406, 504, 602, 604, 606, 608, 612, 614, 616, 618, and        620, as described above; and    -   New instant message 606-3 sent to the other party.

In some embodiments, when the user activates a send key (e.g., either614 or 620), an animation is performed by the device that visually movesthe text in text entry box 612 from the text entry box 612 and appendsit to the displayed string of user messages 606 to the other party. Theblack arrows in FIG. 5E illustrate an animated formation of a quotebubble 606-3. In some embodiments, the size of the quote bubble scaleswith the size of the message. In some embodiments, a sound is also madewhen the message is sent, such as a droplet sound, to notify the user.

In some embodiments, user interface 600F (FIG. 5F) includes thefollowing elements, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   402, 404, 406, 612, 614, 616, 618, 620, and 628, as described        above;    -   Recipient input field 632 that when activated (e.g., by a finger        tap on the field) receives and displays the phone number of the        recipient of the instant message (or the recipient's name if the        recipient is already in the user's contact list);    -   Add recipient icon 634 that when activated (e.g., by a finger        tap on the icon) initiates the display of a scrollable list of        contacts (e.g., 638, FIG. 5G); and    -   Cancel icon 636 that when activated (e.g., by a finger tap on        the icon) cancels the new instant message.

In some embodiments, user interface 600G (FIG. 5G) includes thefollowing elements, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   402, 404, 406, 612, 614, 616, 618, 620, 628, 632, 634, and 636,        as described above;    -   Scrollable list 638 of contacts that match the input in        recipient input field 632; and    -   Vertical bar 640 that helps a user understand how many items in        the contact list that match the input in recipient input field        632 are being displayed.

In some embodiments, list 638 contains contacts that match the input inrecipient input field 632. For example, if the letter “v” is input, thencontacts with either a first name or last name beginning with “v” areshown. If the letters “va” are input in field 632, then the list ofcontacts is narrowed to contacts with either a first name or last namebeginning with “va”, and so on until one of the displayed contacts isselected (e.g., by a tap on a contact entry in the list 638).

In some embodiments, a user can scroll through the list 638 by applyinga vertical swipe gesture 642 to the area displaying the list 638. Insome embodiments, a vertically downward gesture scrolls the listdownward and a vertically upward gesture scrolls the list upward.

In some embodiments, vertical bar 640 is displayed temporarily after anobject is detected on or near the touch screen display (e.g., a fingertouch is detected anywhere on the list 638). In some embodiments, thevertical bar 640 has a vertical position on top of the displayed portionof the list that corresponds to the vertical position in the list of thedisplayed portion of the list. In some embodiments, the vertical bar 640has a vertical length that corresponds to the portion of the list beingdisplayed.

In some embodiments, user interfaces 600H (FIG. 5H) and 600I (FIG. 5I)include the following elements, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   402, 404, 406, 612, 614, 616, 618, 620, 628, 632, 634, and 636,        as described above;    -   Suggested word 644 adjacent to the word being input;    -   Suggested word 646 in the space bar in keyboard 616; and/or    -   Insertion marker 656 (e.g., a cursor, insertion bar, insertion        point, or pointer).

In some embodiments, activating suggested word 644 (e.g., by a fingertap on the suggested word) replaces the word being typed with thesuggested word 644. In some embodiments, activating suggested word 646(e.g., by a finger tap on the space bar) replaces the word being typedwith the suggested word 646. In some embodiments, a user can set whethersuggested words 644 and/or 646 are shown (e.g., by setting a userpreference).

In some embodiments, a letter is enlarged briefly after it is selected(e.g., “N” is enlarged briefly after typing “din” in FIG. 5H) to providevisual feedback to the user.

In some embodiments, user interfaces 600J (FIG. 5J) and 600K (FIG. 5K)include the following elements, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   402, 404, 406, 612, 614, 616, 618, 620, 628, 632, 634, 636, and        656 as described above; and    -   Expanded portion 650 of graphics that helps a user adjust the        position of an expanded insertion marker 657 (sometimes called        an “insertion point magnifier”), both of which are described in        more detail below; and    -   Expanded insertion marker 657.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating process 700 for displaying andusing an insertion point magnifier in accordance with some embodiments.

In some embodiments, a finger contact 648-1 on or near the insertionmarker 656 initiates display of insertion point magnifier 650 andexpanded insertion marker 657-1. In some embodiments, as the fingercontact is moved on the touch screen (e.g., to position 648-2), there iscorresponding motion of the expanded insertion marker (e.g., to 657-2)and the insertion point magnifier 650. Thus, the insertion pointmagnifier 650 provides an efficient way to position a cursor or otherinsertion marker using finger input on the touch screen. In someembodiments, the magnifier 650 remains visible and can be repositionedas long as continuous contact is maintained with the touch screen (e.g.,from position 648-1 to position 648-2 within text input box 612).

In some embodiments, a portable electronic device displays (702)graphics and an insertion marker (e.g., marker 656, FIG. 5I) at a firstlocation in the graphics on a touch screen display (e.g., FIG. 5I). Insome embodiments, the insertion marker 656 is a cursor, insertion bar,insertion point, or pointer. In some embodiments, the graphics includetext (e.g., text in box 612, FIG. 5I).

A finger contact is detected (704) with the touch screen display (e.g.,contact 648-1, FIG. 5I). As shown in FIG. 5I, the location of the fingercontact may be proximate to the location of the insertion marker.Alternately, the location of the finger contact may be anywhere within atext entry area (e.g., box 612, FIG. 5I).

In response to the detected finger contact, the insertion marker isexpanded (706) from a first size (e.g., marker 656, FIG. 5I) to a secondsize (e.g., marker 657-1, FIG. 5J) on the touch screen display, and aportion (e.g., portion 650-1, FIG. 5J) of the graphics on the touchscreen display is expanded (708) from an original size to an expandedsize.

In some embodiments, the portion of the graphics that is expandedincludes the insertion marker 657 and adjacent graphics. In someembodiments, after the insertion point and the portion of the graphicsare expanded, graphics are displayed that include the insertion markerand adjacent graphics at the original size and at the expanded size.

Movement of the finger contact is detected (710) on the touch screendisplay (e.g., from 648-1 to 648-2, FIG. 5J). The expanded insertionmarker is moved (712) in accordance with the detected movement of thefinger contact from the first location (e.g., 657-1, FIG. 5J) to asecond location in the graphics (e.g., 657-2, FIG. 5J).

In some embodiments, the portion of the graphics that is expandedchanges as the insertion marker moves from the first location to thesecond location (e.g., from 650-1 to 650-2, FIG. 5J). In someembodiments, the portion of the graphics that is expanded is displayedin a predefined shape. For example, in some embodiments the portion(e.g., 650, FIG. 5J) of the graphics that is expanded is displayed in acircle. In some embodiments, the expanded insertion marker 657 is withinthe circle.

In some embodiments, the detected movement of the finger contact has ahorizontal component on the touch screen display and a verticalcomponent on the touch screen display. In some embodiments, moving theexpanded insertion marker 657 in accordance with the detected movementof the finger contact includes moving the expanded insertion marker andthe expanded portion of the graphics in accordance with only thehorizontal component of motion of the finger contact (i.e., using thehorizontal component but not the vertical component) when the fingercontact moves outside a text entry area without breaking contact. Forexample, in FIG. 5J, if the finger contact moves from 648-2 (inside thetext entry area 612) to 648-3 (in the keyboard area), the expandedinsertion point 657 and the expanded portion 650 of the graphics maymove horizontally along the lower portion of the text entry area inaccordance with the horizontal component of the movement from 648-2 to648-3 (not shown).

In some embodiments, moving the expanded insertion marker in accordancewith the detected movement of the finger contact includes moving theexpanded insertion marker in a first area of the touch screen thatincludes characters entered using a soft keyboard (e.g., text box 612,FIG. 5J), wherein the soft keyboard is located in a second area of thetouch screen that is separate from the first area (e.g., keyboard 616,FIG. 5J).

In some embodiments, the expanded insertion marker is contracted (714)from the second size to the first size if finger contact with the touchscreen display is broken (e.g., insertion marker 656, FIG. 5K). In someembodiments, the contracting includes an animation of the expandedinsertion marker 657 shrinking into the insertion marker 656 at thesecond location.

In some embodiments, the expanded portion 650 of the graphics iscontracted if finger contact with the touch screen display is no longerdetected for a predetermined time.

A graphical user interface on a portable electronic device with a touchscreen display comprises an insertion marker and graphics. In responseto detecting a finger contact 648 with the touch screen display, theinsertion marker is expanded from a first size 656 to a second size 657,and a portion 650 of the graphics is expanded. In response to detectingmovement of the finger contact on the touch screen display, the expandedinsertion marker is moved in accordance with the detected movement ofthe finger contact from a first location 657-1 in the graphics to asecond location 657-2 in the graphics.

Additional description of insertion marker positioning can be found inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/553,436, “Method, System, AndGraphical User Interface For Positioning An Insertion Marker In A TouchScreen Display,” filed Oct. 26, 2006, the content of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

Additional description of instant messaging on portable electronicdevices can be found in U.S. Patent Application No. 60/883,819,“Portable Electronic Device For Instant Messaging,” filed Jan. 7, 2007,the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate an exemplary user interface for managing,displaying, and creating notes in accordance with some embodiments. Insome embodiments, user interface 4800A (FIG. 6A) includes the followingelements, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   402, 404, and 406, as described above;    -   The number 4802 of existing notes;    -   Titles 4810 of existing notes;    -   Date 4812 and/or time of the note; and    -   Additional information icon 4814 that when activated (e.g., by a        finger tap on the icon) initiates transition to the        corresponding note (e.g., UI 4800B, FIG. 6B).

In some embodiments, detection of a user gesture 4816 anywhere in a rowcorresponding to a note initiates transition to the corresponding note(e.g., UI 4800B, FIG. 6B).

In some embodiments, user interface 4800B (FIG. 6B) includes thefollowing elements, or a subset or superset thereof:

-   -   402, 404, and 406, as described above;    -   Notes icon 4820 that when activated (e.g., by a finger tap on        the icon) initiates display of UI 4800A;    -   The title 4810-3 of the note; and    -   A notepad 4824 for displaying text.

In some embodiments, detection of a user gesture 4826 anywhere on thenotepad 4824 initiates display of a contextual keyboard (e.g., UI 4800C,FIG. 6C) for entering text in the notepad 4824.

In some embodiments, when a contextual keyboard is displayed, detectionof a user gesture on text in the notepad 4824 initiates display of aninsertion point magnifier 4830, as described above with respect to FIGS.5I-5K.

In some embodiments, word suggestion techniques and user interfaces areused to make text entry easier. In some embodiments, a recommended wordis put in the space bar (e.g., the recommended word “dinner” is in thespace bar in FIG. 5J) and detecting user contact with the space barinitiates acceptance of the recommended word. Additional description ofword suggestion can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/620,641, “Method And System For Providing Word Recommendations ForText Input,” filed Jan. 5, 2007, and U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/620,642, “Method, System, And Graphical User Interface For ProvidingWord Recommendations,” filed Jan. 5, 2007, the contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

The foregoing description, for purpose of explanation, has beendescribed with reference to specific embodiments. However, theillustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modificationsand variations are possible in view of the above teachings. Theembodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and its practical applications, to therebyenable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention andvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: at a portable electronicdevice with a touch screen display, displaying graphics and an insertionmarker at a first location in the graphics on the touch screen display;detecting a finger contact with the touch screen display; in response tothe detected finger contact, expanding the insertion marker from a firstsize to a second size on the touch screen display, and expanding aportion of the graphics on the touch screen display; detecting movementof the finger contact on the touch screen display; and moving theexpanded insertion marker in accordance with the detected movement ofthe finger contact from the first location to a second location in thegraphics, wherein: the portion of the graphics that is expanded changesas the insertion marker moves from the first location to the secondlocation; the portion of the graphics that is expanded is displayed in apredefined shape; and the expanded insertion marker is within thepredefined shape; and contracting the expanded insertion marker from thesecond size to the first size if finger contact with the touch screendisplay is broken, wherein the contracting includes an animation of theexpanded insertion marker and the expanded portion of the graphicsshrinking into the insertion marker at the second location.
 2. Acomputer-implemented method, comprising: at a portable electronic devicewith a touch screen display, displaying graphics and an insertion markerat a first location in the graphics on the touch screen display;detecting a finger contact with the touch screen display; in response tothe detected finger contact, expanding the insertion marker from a firstsize to a second size on the touch screen display, and expanding aportion of the graphics on the touch screen display from an originalsize to an expanded size; detecting movement of the finger contact onthe touch screen display; and moving the expanded insertion marker inaccordance with the detected movement of the finger contact from thefirst location to a second location in the graphics.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the insertion marker is a cursor, insertion bar,insertion point, or pointer.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein thegraphics comprise text.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the portion ofthe graphics that is expanded includes the insertion marker and adjacentgraphics.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein after the insertion pointand the portion of the graphics are expanded, graphics are displayedthat include the insertion marker and adjacent graphics at the originalsize and at the expanded size.
 7. The method of claim 2, wherein theportion of the graphics that is expanded changes as the insertion markermoves from the first location to the second location.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, wherein the portion of the graphics that is expanded isdisplayed in a circle.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the portion ofthe graphics that is expanded is displayed in a predefined shape. 10.The method of claim 7, wherein the expanded insertion marker is withinthe circle.
 11. The method of claim 2, wherein the location of thefinger contact is proximate to the location of the insertion marker. 12.The method of claim 2, wherein the location of the finger contact isanywhere within a text entry area.
 13. The method of claim 2, thedetected movement of the finger contact has a horizontal component onthe touch screen display and a vertical component on the touch screendisplay; and moving the expanded insertion marker in accordance with thedetected movement of the finger contact includes moving the expandedinsertion marker and the expanded portion of the graphics in accordancewith only the horizontal component of motion of the finger contact whenthe finger contact moves outside a text entry area without breakingcontact.
 14. The method of claim 2, wherein moving the expandedinsertion marker in accordance with the detected movement of the fingercontact includes moving the expanded insertion marker in a first area ofthe touch screen that includes characters entered using a soft keyboard,wherein the soft keyboard is located in a second area of the touchscreen that is separate from the first area.
 15. The method of claim 2,including contracting the expanded insertion marker from the second sizeto the first size if finger contact with the touch screen display isbroken.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the contracting includes ananimation of the expanded insertion marker shrinking into the insertionmarker at the second location.
 17. The method of claim 2, includingcontracting the expanded portion of the graphics if finger contact withthe touch screen display is no longer detected for a predetermined time.18. A graphical user interface on a portable electronic device with atouch screen display, comprising: an insertion marker; and graphics,wherein: in response to detecting a finger contact with the touch screendisplay, the insertion marker is expanded from a first size to a secondsize, and a portion of the graphics is expanded; and in response todetecting movement of the finger contact on the touch screen display,the expanded insertion marker is moved in accordance with the detectedmovement of the finger contact from a first location in the graphics toa second location in the graphics.
 19. A portable electronic device,comprising: a touch screen display; one or more processors; memory; andone or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in thememory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, theprograms including: instructions for displaying graphics and aninsertion marker at a first location in the graphics on the touch screendisplay; instructions for detecting a finger contact with the touchscreen display; instructions for expanding the insertion marker from afirst size to a second size on the touch screen display in response tothe detected finger contact; instructions for expanding a portion of thegraphics on the touch screen display from an original size to anexpanded size in response to the detected finger contact; instructionsfor detecting movement of the finger contact on the touch screendisplay; and instructions for moving the expanded insertion marker inaccordance with the detected movement of the finger contact from thefirst location to a second location in the graphics.
 20. A computerreadable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or moreprograms comprising instructions, which when executed by a portableelectronic device with a touch screen display, cause the device to:display graphics and an insertion marker at a first location in thegraphics on the touch screen display; detect a finger contact with thetouch screen display; expand the insertion marker from a first size to asecond size on the touch screen display in response to the detectedfinger contact; expand a portion of the graphics on the touch screendisplay from an original size to an expanded size in response to thedetected finger contact; detect movement of the finger contact on thetouch screen display; and move the expanded insertion marker inaccordance with the detected movement of the finger contact from thefirst location to a second location in the graphics.